Photographer tells story of doomed shelter dogs

•July 6, 2012

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In this photo taken on Monday, April 9, 2012, a dog sits in a cage behind his paperwork before being put down by lethal injection at a government-run shelter in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan. In an ongoing project, Taiwanese photographer Tou Chih-kang makes portraits of shelter dogs in the final moments of their lives before being put down by lethal injection. Tou has been visiting dog shelters for two years now, making human-like portraits that give a sense of dignity and esteem to some 400 canines, in hopes of educating the public on the proper care of pets. This year Taiwanese authorities will kill an estimated 80,000 stray dogs at 38 pounds scattered throughout the island. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

In this photo taken on Monday, April 9, 2012, a dog sits in a cage behind his paperwork before being put down by lethal injection at a government-run shelter in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan. In an ongoing project, Taiwanese photographer Tou Chih-kang makes portraits of shelter dogs in the final moments of their lives before being put down by lethal injection. Tou has been visiting dog shelters for two years now, making human-like portraits that give a sense of dignity and esteem to some 400 canines, in hopes of educating the public on the proper care of pets. This year Taiwanese authorities will kill an estimated 80,000 stray dogs at 38 pounds scattered throughout the island. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Photographer Tou Chih-kang has been recording the last moments of canines at the Taoyuan Animal Shelter in Taiwan for two years. He has captured the images of some 400 dogs,